Game Summary vs. Bethel / GameDay Online

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — After failing to score more than 20 points in the first half of any of their first three games — including a season-low 15-point effort in their 65-50 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opening loss to Macalester Wednesday — the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team finally eclipsed the 20-point mark in the opening half against Bethel Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, Bethel nearly eclipsed the 40-point mark, as the Royals raced out to a 39-23 halftime advantage and never looked back in handing SMU its fourth straight loss, 77-60.

The Royals raced out of the starting blocks, draining three 3-pointers in the game's first four minutes to take a commanding 11-0 advantage before the Cardinals finally got on the board on a 3-pointer by Emily DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn.).

And Bethel never let up, shooting xx from the field, including a x-x performance from behind the 3-point line, in building its 16-point halftime cushion — a cushion that ballooned to 23 with an 8-1 Royal run to start the second half.

Trailing 66-37, the Cardinals made a last-ditch run, scoring 12 of the next 14 points to get back to within 18, 68-49, but it was too little, too late, as the Royals kept SMU searching for that elusive first win of the season.

Cherie Kulig (Independence, Wis.) scored a team-high 13 points in leading three SMU players in double figures. Jesa Hall (Glenwood City, Wis.) chipped in a season-best 12 points — including a 3-for-9 effort from the 3-point line — while Michelle Carne (Escanaba, Mich.) finished with 10 points.

The Cardinals, who fall to 0-2 in the MIAC and 0-4 overall, return to action Monday, traveling to Gustavus for a 7:30 p.m. conference game against the Gusties.